Finding his voice : an animated cartoon synchronized to voice & sound
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Finding his voice : an animated cartoon synchronized to voice & sound
- Publication date
- 1929
- Usage
- Public Domain
- Topics
- Perception: Sound, Motion pictures: Sound, Animation, Silent films, Dubbing of motion pictures
- Publisher
- [New York] : Western Electric
- Language
- English
Cartoon showing how sound motion pictures work, produced by a company that was an innovator in the field. Story by W.E. Erpi (pseudonym for Western Electric, Electrical Research Products Inc.). Directors: F. Lyle Goldman and Max Fleischer.
1 film reel (10 min.) : 16 mm
A 1929 animated cartoon which illustrates how sound is added to a motion picture
"A Western Electric sound system picture."
- Addeddate
- 2002-07-16 00:00:00
- Associated-names
- Erpi, W. E; Goldman, F. Lyle; Fleischer, Max, 1883-1972; Western Electric Company
- Ccnum
- asr
- Closed captioning
- no
- Collectionid
- fndvoce
- Color
- B&W
- Country
- United States
- Curatenote
- color: Goodsound: Goodsynch: Goodnotes:
- Identifier
- FindingH1929
- Identifier-storj
- jvc6zshoj6yhytvagxcktq5akt4a/archive.org/download/FindingH1929
- Numeric_id
- 412
- Oclc_id
- 8399278
- Ocr
- And who are. It has a while. You. I thank you. Why. And who knew what. He has. Or why I'm you. Haven't heard about the wonderful thing for me. Yep that my father gave me a set of cards you want to see you take it from me on that rely on the job the way you are. Let's go. Here we are. You. A lot talk a what's on your mind now that my friend knew the want you to put him through the works. Why man you still run on sixty. We'll have to bet feel up to ninety. Open your mouth you. Come right along with me. The you. Are. Not talking let's put on an act for Miss him follow a slew. Of. Yeah. You. Really rare one. Minded who have a motion picture camera which is taking pictures through this window we use a soundproof moves when it's clear was it keeps the camera noise away from the microphone the camera is operated by a motor which runs exactly the same speed as a motor in the Sound Machine. Lulu It's hot in this movie. Let's get out on the set again and I was how the sound is picked up by the microphones on the stage sound waves are picked up by this wonderful mechanical air the microphone which is really a glorified telephone transmitter this microphone changes the sound waves into Aleck tickle a vibration which are amplified here and send along these wires to the mixer room the sounds from the stage microphones are mixed here so that the statue for the action in the production. Mr McNair's these actors through this window and hears them only through this current. Flow. Goal. Now that we've got the sound right. I was show you how it's amplified. Get ready for. The power from the microphones is amplified about ten million times by these vacuum tube making the voyage current strong enough to operate the machines that photograph the sound so you follow me. This is the machine that is used to record the sound on film. This sounds sound is traveling at the same rate of speed as the picture found in the camera though the light bout has to thin metal strings stretched across this tiny slit on one side of the sled. The strong life while on the other is a film moving at exactly the same speed as the picture camera in the studio the greatly Apple a five voice current passing through these tiny light bows strings move them to classes a gather are further apart. Thus changing the size of the site. Therefore the light berries as it passes through this rapidly changing opening leaving a true photographic record of the voice currents on the film. Simple illness. Now let's look at the films after they've been developed. Well here we are here are two negatives developed. The next step is the print these two negatives onto a third piece of film. Will print the sound record first and then the picture record. Here we have a completed sound praying and we are now ready for projection. This is the picture and sound projector. One motor drives both the picture and sound equipment saying Let me illustrate this with a simple diagram this lamp illuminates the soundtrack on the film the light from the lab classes through the slit throwing a very narrow line of brilliant light on the soundtrack as the film runs. Right the marks on the soundtrack cause the light to increase and decrease this light in turn causes the current through the photoelectric cell to increase and decrease. Bus reproducing the electric vibration first created by the sound wave the current from the photoelectric cell is stepped up by the amplifier and then this amplified current is carried by wire. Along right through on the mystery and. The say the connect with a loudspeaker. This is a typical layout of the stage that was to harness behind the screen the receivers connected to the heart and convert the electrical vibrations back in the Sound plays exactly the way the telephone receiver operates so that while the picture is being shown the sound which was recorded is reproduced in step with the picture. Of. The screen is full of small holes so that the harnes Maybe place behind the screen to let the sound through this gives the illusion that the sound is coming from the image of the speaker. Talking they're going to your Q Your next onscreen by music and go try on is no more you. Write. Her a. Pop pop pop pop music machine when I know I know. Ok doing his stuff I can say for right there where you got me. You. Know what you. Already know you. Look years Marty if you must stay on the screen with me. Suppose we get together was a little close harmony what he is saying hello. You relate you. You. You go. You. Know. Who's a. News.
- Proddate
- 1929
- Run time
- 10:38
- Sound
- Sd
- Type
- MovingImage
- Whisper_asr_module_version
- 20230731.02
- Worldcat (source edition)
- 8399278
- Year
- 1929
comment
Reviews
Reviewer:
Gatekeeper7
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 9, 2020
Subject: Western Electric Talking Picture Tech
Subject: Western Electric Talking Picture Tech
Thank goodness these brilliant revolutionaries not only had a technical genius but the good sense to add humor to this animated docunentary. Thank you for your contribution that is thoroughly underrated.
Reviewer:
No School Like The Old School
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 27, 2018
Subject: The Western Electric Company, HEY YOU GUYS!!!
Subject: The Western Electric Company, HEY YOU GUYS!!!
I wasn't aware of this Max Fleischer directed film or the characters from it, but I am glad to have now watched this. Western Electric Company made a great decision hiring animators to create a cartoon showing off and explaining their new sound system and how talking movies worked and are synchronized.
The film starts with an anthropomorphic roll of film named "Talkie" being drawn into life by an animator. Talkie then proceeds to sing and then play on a xylophone. A new character, "Mutie", pops up and stops the music. He then asks using text bubbles how Talkie was able to talk. Talkie tells him who got him his vocal chords and they whisk away to another scene. There, Talkie and Mutie meet Dr. Western, who specializes in lifting voices. We then see the three characters go through a stage, a projector, and the sound system in zany ways to explain how talking pictures are made.
Max Fleishcer, Western Elecrtic Comapny and the other cast and staff sure made what would be an audience bore fest in technical explanations into a fun little educational film. Two thumbs up.
The film starts with an anthropomorphic roll of film named "Talkie" being drawn into life by an animator. Talkie then proceeds to sing and then play on a xylophone. A new character, "Mutie", pops up and stops the music. He then asks using text bubbles how Talkie was able to talk. Talkie tells him who got him his vocal chords and they whisk away to another scene. There, Talkie and Mutie meet Dr. Western, who specializes in lifting voices. We then see the three characters go through a stage, a projector, and the sound system in zany ways to explain how talking pictures are made.
Max Fleishcer, Western Elecrtic Comapny and the other cast and staff sure made what would be an audience bore fest in technical explanations into a fun little educational film. Two thumbs up.
Reviewer:
RobinSpringer
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
September 7, 2017
Subject: So Wonderful-
Subject: So Wonderful-
My dad was only 5 when this was done <3 So excellent. Thank you!
Reviewer:
turbovoncrim
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
October 11, 2013
Subject: great
Subject: great
loved the technical review of how talking pictures work.
Reviewer:
Earle Bruce
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 24, 2011
Subject: great fun
Subject: great fun
interesting movie
Reviewer:
Meatpies
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 20, 2010
Subject: This is a keeper!
Subject: This is a keeper!
There is something very special about the origin of film, whether it was the origin of the silent film, or the move to talkies.
In a day of special effects and CGI, it's so wonderfully refreshing to see how all that got it's start.
In a day of special effects and CGI, it's so wonderfully refreshing to see how all that got it's start.
Reviewer:
musicom -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
September 21, 2008
Subject: The Death of Talkie and Mutie
Subject: The Death of Talkie and Mutie
The last two seconds are the best, when our filmclip friends meet THEIR FATE - - DEATH - - when eaten and gulped down by a small whale while rowing in the sea. THE END. BTW, I thought whales only eat plankton?
Reviewer:
jazzitall
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 27, 2007
Subject: Analog CD
Subject: Analog CD
I like this film, enjoyed much with the technical explanations - optically recorded and played sound in '20! Maybe analog but still very impressing!:)
Reviewer:
Christine Hennig
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 30, 2006
Subject: Everything I Know I Learned from Anthropomorphic Inanimate Objects
Subject: Everything I Know I Learned from Anthropomorphic Inanimate Objects
OK, folks, I knew this would be a favorite the moment it started. It features not one, but two incredibly cute Mr. Product characters: Talkie, a cheery piece of sound film; and Mutie, a cranky piece of silent film. Mutie rudely breaks up Talkieâs act (a cute rendition of the âAnvil Chorusâ on a xylophone) and demands to know where Talkie got his voice. So Talkie takes him to Dr. Western, who explains the sound-on-film process to him, and to us, in detail. This delightful animated film was made in the early days of sound, to explain the process to theater owners, which gives it lots of historical value. But historical value is not what appeals to me hereââitâs the delightful characters of Talkie and Mutie, as well as Dr. Western, who veers dangerously close to being a mad scientist. The ending is a real hoot, but I wonât give it away. Suffice to say that I enjoyed this film from beginning to end. You canât go wrong with Mr. Product characters as far as Iâm concerned.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: *****. Weirdness: *****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: *****.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: *****. Weirdness: *****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: *****.
Reviewer:
ERD
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 25, 2006
Subject: Historically interesting
Subject: Historically interesting
A vintage treasure. Very enjoyable.
Reviewer:
JuanSchwarz
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 25, 2006
Subject: great
Subject: great
Wow, a really funny cartoon, what an interesting way to introduce sound films...
I think the funniest thing is, that this film talks about optical soundtracks, while according to IMDB it originally had a vitaphone soundtrack :D
Great anyway
I think the funniest thing is, that this film talks about optical soundtracks, while according to IMDB it originally had a vitaphone soundtrack :D
Great anyway
Reviewer:
left wing films
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 4, 2005
Subject: its educational!!!
Subject: its educational!!!
great educational funny cartoon
totally worth watching
totally worth watching
Reviewer:
Ja30fitz
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
July 24, 2005
Subject: "Why, have you heard about what Mr. Western has done for MEEE?"
Subject: "Why, have you heard about what Mr. Western has done for MEEE?"
This film is steeped in historical value, but it is still very enjoyable. The two main characters are rather uncreatively named "Talkie" and "Mutie", but that doesn't deter from the quality of this film. It is funny and very enjoyable. It's also fascinating to hear about all the stuff that had to be done in order for a film to have sound! We certainly have it much easier now! The ending is one that cannot be missed!
Reviewer:
Otto Snel
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
July 24, 2005
Subject: Westrex variable area/density.
Subject: Westrex variable area/density.
Excellent demo. I'd just like to mention that Westrex also produced a variable area optical recorder. I think it was in the 1940s, prior to that RCA ruled the area domain (galvo system). Westrex simply mounted the strings in a vertical mode to produce an area track. I worked with the the rather rare Westrex model 1581 duo bilateral recorder The variable area track is still in use at present as the DolbySR default track on digital sound tracks.
Germany's Klang and British GB Kalee also produced variable area recorders. However these systems used a moving mask.
In the late 1940s John Maurer (Los Angeles?) made a 16mm direct negative/direct positive optical recorder utilising a moving mask. It was remarkable as it could record a clean, sharp 10KHz sine wave on film negative. Printing it was another story ......
Otto Snel.
Germany's Klang and British GB Kalee also produced variable area recorders. However these systems used a moving mask.
In the late 1940s John Maurer (Los Angeles?) made a 16mm direct negative/direct positive optical recorder utilising a moving mask. It was remarkable as it could record a clean, sharp 10KHz sine wave on film negative. Printing it was another story ......
Otto Snel.
Reviewer:
Ray Pointer
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 25, 2005
Subject: FINDING HIS VOICE
Subject: FINDING HIS VOICE
Although we have had this title in our archives for many years, it is one of several 16mm dupes that have been circulating for decades. The 16mm prints have all generally been rather good.
But withing the last five years, UCLA has restored it from a 35mm source, and re-recorded the soundtrack as well. Ironically, the re-recorded track is of a rival method--Variable Area, when the method demonstrated and used on the prints was Variable Density.
The film was originally commissioned by the Electical Research Products Incorporated division of Western Electric, which takes credit for the story, E.R.P.I. It was originally intended as a demontration film for threater owners, projectionists, and sound techinicians. Although it tends to get a bit lost within its own technicalities, the animation helps to keep a rather dry subject entertaining. The situation is personified by two rolls of film, one called "Talkie," the other "Mutie." Throughout the film, little technical details are found such as "Mutie"'s pulse needing to be pepped up from 60 to 90. This is a reference to the differences between silent and sound film speeds, which was an increase of 50% by Western Electric.
Additional information on this subject can be gained from my documentary, FIRST SOUND OF MOVIES (2003), which not only uses some footage from FINDING HIS VOICE, but also tells the story of the development of the sound on film process by Dr. Lee deForest.
But withing the last five years, UCLA has restored it from a 35mm source, and re-recorded the soundtrack as well. Ironically, the re-recorded track is of a rival method--Variable Area, when the method demonstrated and used on the prints was Variable Density.
The film was originally commissioned by the Electical Research Products Incorporated division of Western Electric, which takes credit for the story, E.R.P.I. It was originally intended as a demontration film for threater owners, projectionists, and sound techinicians. Although it tends to get a bit lost within its own technicalities, the animation helps to keep a rather dry subject entertaining. The situation is personified by two rolls of film, one called "Talkie," the other "Mutie." Throughout the film, little technical details are found such as "Mutie"'s pulse needing to be pepped up from 60 to 90. This is a reference to the differences between silent and sound film speeds, which was an increase of 50% by Western Electric.
Additional information on this subject can be gained from my documentary, FIRST SOUND OF MOVIES (2003), which not only uses some footage from FINDING HIS VOICE, but also tells the story of the development of the sound on film process by Dr. Lee deForest.
Reviewer:
op712
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
October 19, 2003
Subject: Finding his Voice
Subject: Finding his Voice
Excellent 1929 short on the description of optical sound. From the early advents of the talkies, which was the sound on disk (16 inch shellac disks syncronized with the projector via linkage from the projector motor, in which is what DTS is-kind of of a step backwards with using an external CDrom source for sound to sync up with the timecode on the film for playback), in the process of going forwards with digital sound to our digital sound we have today, it's amazing to also see how the early methods of creating what is called a variable density soundtrack using the wire and aperture method, whereas the later methods of variable desnity recordings were with light passing through an aperture that would bright and dim with voltage variations of the original sound source. Also, in this clip of the projection device, being interesting that the cartoonists used the Powers 6-B silent projector adapted for sound on disk usage for this animated short. And, also take a look at those stage speakers with the folded horn concept-very antique. Overall, quite an interesting short to present to the public on how sound is created for the motion picture audience. I've been the motion picture field for over 35yrs-from carbon arc, exciterlamp, nitrate film, and changeovers to the digital world as we know it today..
Reviewer:
Mathew H.E. Bailey
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 28, 2003
Subject: Finding His Voice
Subject: Finding His Voice
I am a member of the Film-Tech forums at www.film-tech.com & what I have seen in this short is a Western Electric/Vitaphone projector. What I see in the film is a Simplex pre-Super Simplex 35 projector on a Western Electric soundhead,known as an analogue optical sondhead or analogue optical sound reader.
Ther are today besides the analogue optical track three optical digital tracks whisch are SDDS-Sony Dynamic Digital Sound ,DTS-sort for Digital Thatre Systems, & Dolby Digital. DTS involves using an optical Morse code-like trak called a timecode track which syncronizes a CD-ROM disc containing the separate sound with the film. The 35 millimeter film originally on flammable nitrate stock has evolved to acetate then polyester known by Kodak as Estar film stock. So much has changed in theatre sound & projection technology from carbon arc to filament style bulbs to xenon bulbs & possibly to in the future to all laser projection light sources-combining red,green & blue lasers to produce a necessary white light for projection.
Also,the maens of transporting film through projectors has gone from reel-to-reel projection to film platter style reel systems for most theatres. Without film platters,multiple screen theatres would not be possible.
Ther are today besides the analogue optical track three optical digital tracks whisch are SDDS-Sony Dynamic Digital Sound ,DTS-sort for Digital Thatre Systems, & Dolby Digital. DTS involves using an optical Morse code-like trak called a timecode track which syncronizes a CD-ROM disc containing the separate sound with the film. The 35 millimeter film originally on flammable nitrate stock has evolved to acetate then polyester known by Kodak as Estar film stock. So much has changed in theatre sound & projection technology from carbon arc to filament style bulbs to xenon bulbs & possibly to in the future to all laser projection light sources-combining red,green & blue lasers to produce a necessary white light for projection.
Also,the maens of transporting film through projectors has gone from reel-to-reel projection to film platter style reel systems for most theatres. Without film platters,multiple screen theatres would not be possible.
Reviewer:
Spuzz
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 10, 2003
Subject: LOVE THE ENDING!
Subject: LOVE THE ENDING!
In this early Max Fleischer short, the process of how talkies were made at the time. Completely animated, it features Soudie, the talking filmstrip, and his friend the silent one, about how to get his voive. They go to Dr Western and then Dr Western goes into a simewhat tedious scientific explanation about how sound his made. Somewhat interesting though as we see processes that are no longer used (the camer in the soundproof room for example). Soo, the silent filmstrip DOES find his voice and joins his brother for a singalong version of 'Merrily We Roll Along' to a an amazingly hilarious finale which I can't spoil for you. Let me say it's rather unexpected. Reccomended!
Reviewer:
Wilford B. Wolf
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 27, 2003
Subject: His Filmic Voice
Subject: His Filmic Voice
Max Fleischer, as well as being a animation pioneer in both the silent and sound eras, also did a number of industrial and advertising films. This 1929 piece is a fascinating example. The film finds Max in a stylistic crossover, from the more simplistic animation of his Out Of The Inkwell series, using block blacks and little, if any backgrounds, to the more detailed backgrounds and larger grey pallets that would mark his 1930s work of Betty Boop and Popeye.
Not only is this an excellent example of Fleischer's work, it is wonderful overview of how sound on film works, a technology that remained basically the same until the advent of multi-channel stereo on film in the early 1990s.
Not only is this an excellent example of Fleischer's work, it is wonderful overview of how sound on film works, a technology that remained basically the same until the advent of multi-channel stereo on film in the early 1990s.
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